Energy flat rate and subsidy: Hartz IV top-ups could benefit twice
Created: 05/18/2022, 10:48 am
By: Lisa Mayerhofer
Anyone who tops up their income with Hartz IV can probably benefit twice from the relief package.
The conditions.
Berlin – Inflation and the Ukraine war are driving energy and food prices.
In order to relieve the population, the traffic light coalition has decided on a relief package.
An important part of this is the energy price flat rate of 300 euros, which is paid with the salary.
But also welfare recipients should get additional help, in the form of a one-time grant of 200 euros.
Relief package: double payment for Hartz IV top-ups?
This gives a group the opportunity to benefit twice: People who top up their salary with Hartz IV are entitled to both payments: the energy price flat rate in September and the subsidy for social welfare recipients in July.
"According to the facts so far, there should be a double payment," said Harald Thomé, social advisor at the Tacheles association in Wuppertal, the
taz
.
However, there is a catch: the energy price flat rate could be offset against the Hartz IV payment as additional income.
The government still has to decide how exactly this could be regulated.
"Whether and to what extent the energy price flat rate is to be taken into account as income for ALG II top-ups will still have to be clarified as part of the implementation of the relief package," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Labor of the taz.
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Hartz IV: How the energy price flat rate could be counted
There are several options for the traffic light coalition: For example, you can not count the flat rate on the income and thus the Hartz IV receipt - because of the intended purpose.
You can also count the energy price flat rate as earned income or other income - and this could affect your Hartz IV receipt.
In the latter case, top-ups could at least split the flat rate over several months if the entitlement to Hartz IV benefits would otherwise be lost.
However, if it ends up being credited as earned income, there is not much left for those who top up the lump sum.
It is still completely open which option the coalition will ultimately choose.
